NAIA security shows X-ray photos of bullets found in passenger baggage

The Office for Transportation Security, which screens baggage at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, showed photos of bullets detected in passenger luggage on Wednesday to show that some people do bring bullets in their bags.

 

This, after baggage screeners received criticism for an alleged "laglag-bala" extortion scam, where bullets are supposedly planted in luggage so screeners can collect bribes from passengers.

 

In a report from GMA's “24 Oras” on Thursday, OTS Public Information Chief Jonathan Maliwat said there were three of these incidents recorded at the NAIA Terminal 3 on Wednesday.

 

“Pag pasok ng bagahe mo natural doon sa conveyor expect mo na lalabas yun. So pag pumasok iyong bagahe mo, magreregister iyong imahe noon kaya pinapakita namin iyong actual na X-ray image. At nag-register doon na mayroon kang intercepted items,” he said.

 

Maliwat said the usual reason of passengers found with bullets in their baggage was that they were using these as lucky charms for their trips.

 

“Agimat o ito'y pangontra. Kaya nga gusto namin ipakita dito din na talagang mayroon talagang nagdadala ng isang bala at normally yun ang sinasabi nila,” he said.

 

Maliwat said two of the passengers were found with a bullet each but one was found with nine bullets in her baggage.

 

The passenger told OTS that she only borrowed the bag.

 

Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya said he already asked a team to review the procedures for baggage inspection in NAIA.

 

“Maybe it would be good to adopt na iyong pasahero mismo iyong magbubuklat imbes na iyong tao natin,” he said.

 

At least seven people have been detained in the Airport Aviation Detention Cell for having bullets in their baggage. They will be charged with illegal possession of ammunition.

 

“In spite of the continuous announcement and reminders, medyo napaparami po lalo iyong naiimbestigahan for carrying ammunition. But still we would like to remind passengers to check the baggages first,” Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group Director C/Supt. Pablo Francisco Balagtas said. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News